Scientists create first synthetic cell from scratch
SpudCell is a synthetic cell made by scientists at the University of Minnesota. It’s a pared-down version of a living cell structure So is it alive?
20 across the spectrum. Choose a side on the bar to jump to it.
National story. 21 articles from 21 sources. 20 are on the bar; 1 is an international, entertainment or tech outlet, listed separately. Updated Jul 4, 2026.
Left
3 sourcesScientists made a cell with most of the hallmarks of life. Here’s what to know
University of Minnesota scientists made a cell with most of the hallmarks of life. Here’s what to know.
Center
14 sources‘Almost Alive’: Scientists Built an Artificial Cell-Like Blob From Scratch. It Eats, Grows, and Divides
For The First Time, Scientists Say They've Built a Synthetic Cell From Scratch
An artificial cell with a full lifecycle has been created for the first time
Scientists Just Created Something Like Artificial Life—and They’re Releasing the Blueprints to Everyone
Right
3 sources'Milestone': Scientists claim to build synthetic cell, raising concerns in step toward artificial life
Scientists claim they have built a cell from scratch for the first time
Other outlets
International, entertainment and tech outlets, by their rating. Not counted in the bar above. How we count coverage
Left
1 article‘Beautiful blobs’: synthetic life a step closer as scientists make cells using lab-made DNA
Center
0 articlesNone
Right
0 articlesNone
The story so far
4 developments- Jul 1Only lean-left coverage:Scientists made a cell with most of the hallmarks of life. Here’s what to know
- Jul 1Scientists say they have built a cell from scratch for the first time
- Jul 1Only center coverage:World's first synthetic cell with a complete life cycle could revolutionize biological engineering
- Jul 2New synthetic cells tiptoe toward creating life
Who covered each development
No new developments
Quiet for 107 daysLast development · Jul 2 — New synthetic cells tiptoe toward creating life